Pianoforte-action.



No'. 633,|89. Patented Sept. l9, I899. F. c. GILLETTE & A. J. FLINT.

PIANOFOBTE ACTION.

(Application filed May 6, 1899.)

in Model.)

WITNEEEJES g' INVENTEIFKEJ 52M 497 gl/am 717/ r UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRED O. GIIJLIQ'PE AND ARTHUR .I. FLINT, OF BOSTON, MASSAClIUSICTTIS.

PlANOFORTE-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,189, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed May 6, 1899.

T (LZZ whont it nuty concern:

Be it known that we, FRED O. GILLETTE and ARTHUR J. FLINT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pianoforte-Actions, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in pianoforte-actions; and it consists in a device by which the function known as repeat is fully developed and the hammer movements are much improved and simplified.

The mechanism by which we attain the improved results is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the parts of an upright-pianoforte action, the hammer being represented as back in its resting position. Other positions of the hammer are indicated by dotted lines. Figs. 2 and 3 show different positions of the hammer-butt and its coacting parts.

As our invention relates entirely to the parts that are directly connected to the hammer, we will confine our description to those parts.

In Fig. l A represents the jack, which is made and hung in the usual manner. The jack-fly B is pivoted to the jack at B. The upper end B of the jack-fly B is made nearly or quite fiat and broad, and the front face is inclined so as to be nearly or quite at right angles with the adjusting-screw L of the but ton L, whereby there is a full bearing between the face of the button and that of the jackfly, as shown. The hammer H has a stem 11 and butt H, pivoted at H to the flange D. A hammer-butt bracket L is connected to the butt by means of a pin L An adjustable backstop button L is connected tothe bracket L by the adjusting-screw L.

E represents the well-known light checkspring, adapted to assist in checking the forward movement of the hammer, but not to control its action except to a very limited degree.

IVe will now explain the peculiar features of our pianoforte-action. The lower end of the hammer-butt II has a rounded boss II",

Serial No. 715,857. No modelfi made substantially as shown in the drawings, go although the exact form of this part need not be followed. It is essential only that thelcver-like function of this part be maintained, so that the spiral spring S shall have free scope to perform its work of steadying and to a limited extent controlling the movements of the hammer. In addition to these functions the spiral spring S completely controls the action of the jack-fly B, no other spring being required for the jack-fly. The jack-fly has a mortise cut entirely through it, as shown at B Figs. 2 and This mortise leaves a free space through the upper part of the jack-fly for the spring S to work in. One end of the spring S is connected to the hammer-butt at S, the other end being attached to the jack-fly by the wire hook at S This hook S may be bent as desired, so as to bring more orless tension on the spring S, and thus adjust it. \Ve do not confine ourselves to any particular method of constructing the spring or of attaching it to the hammer-buttor to the jack-fly. The advantage of directly connecting the hammer and the jack-fly is that this method secures a perfect coaction and balance between these parts. A single adjustment establishes a perfect working relation between the hammer and the jack-fly.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the hammer and its parts are shown in the position that they occupy when the key is in its normal position and the hammer clear back. In this position the upper face B of the jack-fly is in full contact with the cushion 11 0f thehammer-butt. The dotted lines it 7t, Fig. 1, represent different positions of the ham mer-head when the player is executing a repeat.

In Fig. 3 we have shown one of the positions that the upper end of the jack-fly will occupy in relation to the hammer-butt and the back-stop button If.

o claim- In a pianoforteaction, a hammer having a butt pivoted as usual, and havinga rounded boss below the pivot acting like a lever, the fulcrum of which is the pivot upon which the hammer swings; and a longitudinallyelastic spring attached at the rear of the hammerbutt above the pivotzmd passing zn'oundnnd two subscribing witnesses, on this 20th (lay under the boss to the jack-fly to which it is of August, A. D. 1898.

attached, whereby the said spring acts both v V 1 upon the ham n1e1' and upon the jack-fly and i i fi the said jack-fly; substantially as and fort-he I M purpose set forth. \Vitnesses:

In testimony whereof We have signed our BOWDOIN S. PARKER, names to this specification, in the presence of 1 WILLIAM H. PARRY. 

